The University of Texas Permian Basin held the official grand opening ceremony of the University’s newest building: The D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center, also known as “The Kirk.” This wonderful facility houses the next generation of healthcare professionals, social workers, community health leaders, scientists and thought-leaders. It is also a home to student-athletes, representing 16 different sports
The D. Kirk Edwards Family Human Performance Center is a state-of-the-art facility with classrooms, lab space, and technology necessary to give UT Permian Basin students and athletes the best tools to excel. At a total project cost of $37 million, the building covers 63,717 square feet. The Kirk is home to the College of Health Sciences and Human Performance and features several labs including: athletic training education, exercise physiology, biomechanics, clinical skills, rehab, body composition, and bone densitometry. It also features faculty offices and the Jimmie B. Todd Academic Wing.
In the athletic wing of The Kirk there is a 150-seat auditorium/team meeting room, the ORMC Strength & Performance Center, locker rooms for football and women’s soccer, office space for coaches and staff, student-athlete lounge, and the cutting-edge athletic training room and hydrotherapy pools.
“The University is committed to serving this region which includes two important initiatives: improving healthcare outcomes and enhancing quality of life. Our goal is to educate and train the leaders of tomorrow in the areas of nursing, athletic training, kinesiology, social work, community health and more to come,” said UT Permian Basin President, Dr. Sandra Woodley. “Falcon athletics gives students an opportunity to fund their education while also providing entertainment, spirited competition, and a whole lot of fun for communities across the Basin.”
The building is named after Kirk Edwards, long-time University donor and supporter. A native Odessan, Mr. Edwards helped spearhead the creation of the Falcon Football program, forever changing the landscape of Falcon Athletics. The Kirk was designed by SmithGroup of Dallas. Vandergriff Group Architects of Midland was selected as the construction administrator, and Lott Brothers of Austin was selected as the construction manager.
